Hem and Haul: Arden Reed Custom Suits

As modern gays-on-the-go; we have a lot on our plate: early morning workouts, climbing the corporate ladder, maintaining relationships, catching up with friends and staying on top of cultural events. And we want to look our best every step of the way.

A sleek and stylish suit is a keystone to a successful men's wardrobe but not just any old two-piece will do. Having a custom suit built for your exact body type and measurements makes a world of sartorial difference. But an appointment with a classic tailor is a standing around getting measured and multiple return visits time consuming affair.

That's where Arden Reed comes in. Arden Reed brings the traditional suit process into the modern age with a quick yet thorough body scan that just so happens to take place in a mobile truck. It's the next step in creating a unique experience where the end result is a made-to-measure suit of refulgence. And guys are embracing it en masse.

Technology Meets Bespoke Tailoring

Close to 5 years ago, co-founders Carlos Solorio and Mike Abadi were pondering how to combine state-of-the-art technology with Old World tailoring. They started a bespoke suit company online and after debating close to 100 names, chose Arden Reed since it most evoked their vision of European craftsmanship.

Solorio and Abadi quickly found that securing exact measurements from their unseen clients was a big issue. Customers weren’t able to get true stats to them on their own. Intrigued by early uses of 3D printing with fabrics, Abadi wanted to adapt the scanning technology to fully realize customer body readings.

This new method allows for a 3-D model of a man’s body that is beyond accurate and not as invasive as the old school tape measure. The scanner is powered by 14 asus censors that allow for a powerful and precise reading without the awkward body measuring of yore. "Guys don’t really like all that touching," Solorio jokes. "And they’re really into the tech aspect. We have people come in and chat with us all the time about the technology we use."

Fashion on the Fly

Once they had the how down, Solorio and Abadi needed to land a signature where. It needed to be a location that would set them apart from other suit makers and make it clear this wasn’t your father’s tailor. "How can we make it tangible but not a traditional retail model?" Solorio says was the driving force.

In New York City, where food truck culture has exploded beyond taco trucks imported from the west coast to mobile cronuts and cupcakes, why not put a bespoke suit maker in a truck? The mobile aspect has made Arden Reed more streamlined. Simply go on their website, click the truck icon on the page to see where it is located and book an appointment. Availability for the truck is currently Tuesday through Saturday.

Fear not, this isn’t just for New Yorkers. The Arden Reed truck has made its way beyond the five boroughs and into Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, Washington D.C. and all the way to California. Inside the truck, Arden Reed delivers timeless luxury with a side of contemporary convenience. "When you go to get a traditional custom suit, there’s a first, second and third fitting... this is time consuming," Solorio says. "Where as we’re just one 15 minute consultation and body scan."

The Perfect Fit

All types of men will find Arden Reed’s retail model attractive but in particular the guys who struggled before to find the right fit: the big and tall and in-between. But Arden Reed has particularly hit the sweet spot for a certain type of city dweller: the guy-on-the-go. "It’s turned out to be the incredibly busy professional to whom we’re a life saver. Instead of spending four hours back and forth during his weekend, he can get measures during his lunch break," Solorio says.

Business had been good and Arden Reed is growing. "We’re here to make it ridiculously easy for any guy to be the best dressed in the room," Solorio says. To that, Arden Reed is expanding to ready to wear with dress shirts and more casual button front shirts already in the early stages.

Plus, for those who like a good throwback, Arden Reed is doing a pop-up in association with House Play in the Flatiron District of Manhattan March 19 - March 29. This will test the brand as an expanding enterprise. "The brick and mortar allows for a permanent presence in New York City, even when the truck is located elsewhere," Solorio explains.

Arden Reed is in a rarefied realm of providing hands-on service in a one-of-a-kind setting. If they continue to drive home the message and deliver the goods, this brand will really be going places.